The Power of Grit

This NBA basketball season has been an exciting one for the Memphis Grizzlies. If nothing else, Mike Conley’s recent injury and subsequent return to the game has demonstrated that the Grizzlies, and the city of Memphis, have some serious grit.

Grit is defined as having perseverance and passion for long-term goals. A gritty person is able to stay the course in the face of adversity and setbacks, often not requiring much outside positive encouragement. They find the strength from within.

The concepts behind grit have been around for years. But, in 2013, educator and researcher Angela Lee Duckworth got the world talking when she introduced the idea of grit during a moving TED Talk. She became interested in grit when as a teacher, she noticed that it was often not her most intelligent students who were doing the best in her class. It was the grittiest.

In fact, when it comes to careers, much of our success also is determined by how gritty we are. To learn where grit comes from, and how to become grittier, read my entire column here.